Stromness suits a harbour-centred Orkney stay with narrow town streets and an optional longer outing towards Warebeth. The hotel and The Voe serve different trips: one offers rooms, while the other is a one-bedroom apartment with a minimum week. Current hotel changes matter here-dinner service has closed and the lift is temporarily unavailable. Choose accommodation around those practical details before planning a coastal day, and leave the longer circuit optional in exposed weather.
Policies researched 27 September 2026 · Check directly before booking
Dog access can depend on the room or accommodation you choose. Confirm the exact dog arrangements before you pay.
The Stromness Hotel permits up to two pets with charges to confirm, but operates as a dry hotel with no alcohol allowed. Its café is also closed until further notice. The Voe offers self-catering with dogs agreed in advance and a £20 extra cleaning charge per stay; its week minimum means a two-day outline sits within a longer booking.
The Pierhead, 15 Victoria Street, Stromness, Orkney KW16 3AA
The Stromness Hotel
A hotel at the Pierhead on Victoria Street. The lift is currently out of service; confirm stairs and room access. Dinner closed from 17 September 2026 and the café is closed until further notice.
The dog details
Up to two pets, charges to confirm. Leads in common areas; ask about breakfast space and supervision. Dry hotel: alcohol is not permitted anywhere on site.
Book directly with the property Confirm your dog, exact accommodation, minimum stay and total charge before paying.
Settle into your room or apartment and take a short town walk. Hotel guests should arrange an alternative dinner in advance.
Day two · coast or more town time
Choose a suitable Warebeth outing in settled conditions, or keep the day local. Apartment guests remain within the booked minimum week.
A suggested plan, not a booked itinerary. Adapt it to your dog, the weather and current access.
THE DETAILS THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Good to know before you go
Check current hotel services
Lift, café and dinner changes affect access and meals; reconfirm them directly before paying.
Match accommodation to trip length
The Voe is a minimum-week stay, while hotel room availability and minimums need checking for your dates.
Your Stromness questions
Can I plan an evening meal at The Stromness Hotel?
No. The hotel says its evening dinner service permanently closed on 17 September 2026. Breakfast continues daily from 7:30 to 9:30, while Flattie in a Teacup café is temporarily closed until further notice. Make a separate dinner plan and check the hotel’s page for changes before travel.
Can I book The Voe for a short two-night stay with a dog?
No. The current Orkney.com listing gives The Voe a one-week minimum stay. Dogs are accepted by prior arrangement and incur a £20 extra-cleaning payment. It is a one-bedroom town apartment near the ferry and bus stop, so it suits a longer self-catering stay better than a short stopover.
Is the Stromness-Warebeth walk a short, easy dog loop?
It is a 6.5 km route that Orkney.com grades 3 and estimates at 2.5 hours. The surface is generally well-surfaced paths and minor roads, but there are narrow coastal sections, an area where coastal erosion threatens the path, and an inland vehicle track that can be wet. Treat it as a longer outing, check conditions, and keep your dog under control under the Outdoor Access Code.
Can my dog travel in the passenger areas on the Stromness ferry?
NorthLink’s Scrabster-Stromness vessel, MV Hamnavoe, has an indoor dog lounge where passengers can reserve a free place; dogs may also use the outside deck. Ordinary internal public areas are for support dogs. Keep your dog on a lead in the lounge, do not leave it unattended, and note that the lounge has space for up to eight dogs at a time.
The hotel’s current stay information says it allows up to two well-behaved pets and that charges apply, but it does not give the amount. Dogs must be on leads in public areas and cleaned up after. Contact the hotel to confirm the fee and room arrangements before booking.
Researched from accommodation operators, property listings and visitor information linked above on 27 September 2026. Prices and policies can change; a stated dog fee is not a room quote or a promise of availability. We have not personally inspected these places. Our day plans are editorial suggestions.
The dog details